The balance of power has shifted in favour of Queenstown Lakes District Council staff and not elected councillors, virtually all local Government candidates claimed during a public forum in Arrowtown, on Wednesday night.
Mayoral hopeful Cr Vanessa van Uden said the power base shifted when there were people who did not understand the details.
"What we've had is the tail wagging the dog, with staff coming up with policies and councillors rubber stamping," Cr van Uden said.
Rival mayoral candidate and former councillor Simon Hayes said it was up to councillors to give staff strict instructions.
Arrowtown seat candidate Cr Lex Perkins said councillors had to rely on council managers because the Resource Management and Local Government Acts were "a complex industry", which lawyers still fought over.
However, rival Arrowtown contender Simon Spark said: "Too few people in council have too much power. Some people who work in council are not up to it."
When the panel was asked for their opinion on a "bed tax" as a source of council income, Cr Perkins said he could understand the opposition.
Mr Spark considered a bed tax would be hard to administer and thought it better to investigate other options.
Cr van Uden said there already was a bed tax, "in a way", as operators paid a differential rate. The council needed to look at more ways to generate income from visitors to provide services.
Her suggestion of community consultation was shared by Mr Hayes, who mentioned the idea of a departure levy on visitors flying from Queenstown Airport.
Cr van Uden said rates increases had been "over the top" and she had opposed them as a councillor.
She put expenditure down to consultant fees, the structure of contracts and the council not getting good value for money.
However, Cr Perkins said the council was cutting down on consultants and was on the right track in keeping costs down.
He said he was a great believer in doing a job right and doing it once, particularly with infrastructure.
The Frankton Community Association will host an open meeting with mayoral and council candidates in the Remarkables Primary School hall on Sunday, September 19, at 7.30pm.
